Serendipity Strikes Close to Home

Author and cancer survivor celebrates strong connections to UMGCC

As a lawyer turned award-winning
full-time author, Debbie Levy
draws inspiration from many
sources. Her bibliography is
diverse, ranging from children’s
books to texts on medical ethics and
civil liberties, and her works are both
lighthearted and deeply personal.
Several of her projects also reflect
Debbie’s passion for storytelling and
philanthropy. By what can only be
called serendipity, a recent project
also strengthened her connection
to the University of Maryland
Greenebaum Cancer Center.

Long familiar with UMGCC through
the work of her husband, Richard
Hoffman, on the UMMS Board, and
as a former patient herself, Debbie
was acutely aware of its outstanding
reputation. However, it was a twist
of fate that sparked a renewed
connection when Debbie’s agent
called with a children’s book idea
about a marathon-running dog.

Unbeknownst to Debbie, this dog
named Dozer had recently received
national attention for jumping in
with runners of the 2011 Maryland Half Marathon and completing nearly
seven miles of the race course. After
she realized this race occurred right
here in Maryland and was also a
fundraiser for UMGCC, Debbie told
her agent, “if someone is going to
write that book it should be me!”

Dozer’s Run: A True Story of a Dog
and His Race was published in 2014.
In addition to the joy she has found sharing Dozer’s story with readers,
Debbie notes another discovery.
“Dozer’s appeal is universal. He
brought joy to others who were
racing to support UMGCC through
his cheerful personality. He’s inspired
many to give back and continue the
fight against cancer.”

Through her work on Dozer’s story,
Debbie deepened her own connection
with UMGCC. Also a lifelong
Marylander, Debbie believes strongly
that “we’re fortunate to have an
NCI-designated cancer center like
UMGCC right here in our backyard so
we all can benefit from the discoveries
made here.” The people at UMGCC
“wear their commitment to research
and patient care on their sleeves,”
she adds. “I knew I wanted to support
these efforts.”

Levy’s philanthropic gift to UMGCC
was inspired by her mother, Jutta
Salzberg, whose personal story moved
her daughter to pen The Year of
Goodbyes: A True Story of Friendship,
Family and Farewells. The book paints
a portrait of Jutta’s life as a young girl
in 1938 Nazi Germany.

Throughout the book, Jutta’s
poesiealbum, or autograph book,
features prominently and gives the
reader a glimpse into everyday life.
Prior to Jutta’s death at age 87 in
2013, Levy spent several years
alongside her mother, sharing the
book with others. “My mother was
also a cancer survivor,” Levy notes.
“I couldn’t think of a better way to
pay tribute to her than to support
cancer research. It’s what she
would have wanted.”